Wedding Horror Story: A Special Gift For Dad

There are so many times I’ve seen family members not get along with one another but none is more memorable than the time I was setting up for a wedding at a local venue. This place is absolutely picturesque with fountains, a beautiful garden and a relaxed, historical setting. None of this sets the proper stage for these family members.

Our groom was already there with his formally-dressed friends getting ready to have their photos taken when dad finally showed up, also as well dressed as his son. Turns out junior was looking forward to seeing his pops and went outside to greet him, or perhaps inquire as to why he was running so late.

The polite exchange between father and son didn’t last long and within moments, the two were yelling at each other and shortly the impolite exchange became a flat-out family brawl. From my vantage point, the exchange had something to do with the woman the groom’s father had brought with him who, to my untrained eye, was about the same age as the bride-to-never-be.

This woman was the one who helped to get things started and was the one to call the police who responded with lightening speed. Shortly after she got on her cell phone several cruisers were on hand and they made short work of arresting both father and son.

This was the shortest wedding reception I’ve ever not performed at and I’m not sure who got to tell the bride-to-be but you can bet she wasn’t thrilled with the news. As far as I am aware, there was no make-up wedding scheduled to replace the one that never happened. After all, you don’t just marry an individual but you get the whole family.

Anthony (Tony) Barthel has been a DJ since 1986 with a unique take on marketing that has resulted in over 1,000 events personally performed. In that time Tony’s weird sense of humor and unique perspective on the world got him started collecting these stories and sharing them with friends and other wedding professionals.
Born in Baden, Switzerland Tony celebrates the unusual and outlandish as part of his lifestyle. He was married to Peggy Sue in 2005 in what his friends describe as the most unusual wedding ceremony and reception they’ve ever been to. The ceremony was in a 1928 movie theater complete with giant Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ and the reception lasted for two days including a gathering in an ocean side lagoon with 400 of their closest friends.